Meet Mr Ravi Thomas, an educationist who provided the lavish premises of Aeli Hills at Aluva gratis for conducting the annual International conference of Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPCONKochi2019) from 8 to 10 February 2019, with pre-conference workshops on the previous day. The conference was held under the leadership of Dr Hyder Ali of Anwar palliative care. The scientific committee provided a rich academic feast.

With Mr Ravi Thomas in the picture is Rev Fr Abraham Varghese, a palliative care pioneer who was instrumental in the Palliative care network under Mar Thoma Church.

Now that he has met palliative care at close quarters, Mr Ravi Thomas intends to enter the field and to help remove some suffering in our community.

Additionally, for all doctors or nurses who have an interest in a short course in Pediatric Palliative Care, there is a one-month Advanced Certificate Course in Pediatric Palliative Care at MNJ Institute of Oncology and RCC. All health care providers who have some experience in palliative care can apply. This course runs twice each year, with participants spending 1 month in Hyderabad.

Himachal Pradesh is one of the states where Pallium India is working with the state government to improve access to palliative care.

Thanks to the interest shown by Shri Probhod Saxena IAS, principal secretary of health and thanks to the dynamism of Dr Gopal Chauhan of the national health mission of the state, we had 11 enthusiastic doctors attending a foundation course in palliative medicine with us in Trivandrum. We have more than enough reason to be optimistic.

Dear doctors in Himachal Pradesh, all of us at Pallium India look forward to working with you to reduce health-related suffering in your beautiful state.

Lakshadweep, the group of 36 islands with its exotic and sun-bathed beaches and lush green landscape, forms a Union Territory of India, off the Southwest coast of Kerala in the Arabian sea. Geographically isolated from mainland India, the island had no access to palliative care till Maulana, a man who could only be described as the essence of goodness, came on the scene. He visited Pallium India at Trivandrum, formed a registered charitable organization by name Thanal (meaning Shade), and in a few months, Dr Ali and Mr Kahfi (a nurse) underwent a six-week course in Pallium India’s Trivandrum Institute. In a year, we had the first palliative care unit in the island of Kavarati. And since then it has grown from strength to strength.

A few pieces of good news from Lakshadweep:

• The Lakshadweep administration has given an award of appreciation to Thanal (purse of Rs 100,000).
• The Lakshadweep Development Corporation Ltd has given a grant of one million Rupees out of its Corporate Social Responsibility program.

Congratulations, Maulana and team. We shall look forward to hearing about your participation in the forthcoming Health Mela; we understand that Thanal has been granted a stall there to showcase its work. And Pallium India is indeed very proud to be your fellow-traveler.

Disclaimer: Information provided by Pallium India has been collected from different sources and though every effort has been made to ensure that it is up-to-date, its accuracy cannot be assured. Pallium India shall have no liability for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of reliance on the information provided.